popular

[ pop-yuh-ler ]

adjective

1. regarded with favor, approval, or affection by people in general:

   a popular preacher.

   Synonyms: bookmark

2. regarded with favor, approval, or affection by an acquaintance or acquaintances:

   He's not very popular with me just now.

3. of, relating to, or representing the people, especially the common people:

   popular discontent.

4. of the people as a whole, especially of all citizens of a nation or state qualified to participate in an election:

   popular suffrage; the popular vote; popular representation.

5. prevailing among the people generally:

   a popular superstition.

   Synonyms: current, common

6. suited to or intended for the general masses of people:

   popular music.

7. adapted to the ordinary intelligence or taste:

   popular lectures on science.

8. suited to the means of ordinary people; not expensive:

   popular prices on all tickets.

popular

/ ˈpɒpjʊlə; ˌpɒpjʊˈlærɪtɪ /

adjective

1. appealing to the general public; widely favoured or admired
2. favoured by an individual or limited group

   I'm not very popular with her

3. connected with, representing, or prevailing among the general public; common

   popular discontent

4. appealing to or comprehensible to the layman

   a popular lecture on physics

noun

1. usually plural cheap newspapers with mass circulation; the popular press Also shortened topops

Derived Forms

• popularity, noun

Other Words From

• anti·popu·lar adjective
• non·popu·lar adjective
• over·popu·lar adjective
• pseudo·popu·lar adjective
• quasi-popu·lar adjective
• semi·popu·lar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of popular¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English populer, from Latin populāris; people, -ar ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of popular¹

C15: from Latin populāris belonging to the people, democratic, from populus people

Synonym Study

See general.

Example Sentences

He is widely considered among the least popular members of Congress.

From Los Angeles Times

The phenomenon has grown so popular of late that Yosemite officials say a growing number of visitors have destroyed natural vegetation and disturbed habitats while battling for parking and viewing spaces.

From Los Angeles Times

But for the most part, Trump was popular enough to be on track to win in 2020 because he did fairly standard Republican things like cut taxes, slash regulations, and appoint originalist judges.

From Slate

Public support for abortion rights wasn’t enough for Kamala Harris, but there’s no reason to think bans like Idaho’s are any more popular than they were before.

From Slate

“It’s an incredibly popular law and that makes sense because nobody really likes to be told who to vote for, and people aren’t going to church expecting to hear political lectures,” Markert said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• attractive
• beloved
• famous
• fashionable
• favored
• prominent
• suitable
• trendy